Fruit picker



July 31, 1934. G MELOWN 1,968,414

FRUIT PICKER Filed July 11, 1952 George EMe/owkz IN VENTOR.

BY (WW A TTORNE Y.

Fatenteol July 31, 1934 FRUIT PICKER George E. Melown Poland, Ohio, assignor of onehalf to August P. Anderson, Youngstown, Ohio Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,802

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fruit pickers and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character operated in a manner so .that fruit may be picked and collected with rapid- 'ity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lower jaw portion held in a rigid position relative to its support and extending outwardly from 19 the side of its support.

' A further object is to provide a flared lower jaw portion provided with an up-turned flange.

A further object is to provide a hinged upper jaw of substantially the same curvature in order that the same may fit snugly within the lower jaw when closed.

A further object is to provide an operating rod for the actuating of this hinged upper jaw.

A further object is to provide a bag portion with .a reduced neck portion and means for coupling this neck portion in order to provide means of lengthening or shortening the neck portion as desired.

A still further object is to provide rings within 5 this neck portion for the purpose of keeping the same from collapsing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

" The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device.

Figure 2 is a detailed enlarged cross-section taken on line 22 of Figure l.

" Figure 3 is a detail of Figure 1 showing a crosssection of a portion of the jaws in a closed position.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that there is provided a handle 1. Attached to an upper end 2 of the handle 1 there is provided a bracket member 3. This bracket member 3 is held firmly in relation to the handle 1 by a pair of braces 4 which are attached to the outer ends of the bracket member 3 and to the handle 1.

Attached in a rigid manner to this bracket member 3 there is a flared lower jaw member 5. This flared lower jaw member 5 is provided with a flexible bag portion 6 which is provided downwardly extending arms 11 there is a jaw manipulating rod 12 which is provided with a central loop 13. Functioning within this central loop 13 there is provided an operating bar 14. This operating bar 14 is provided with lugs 15 on each side of the central loop 13 in order to hold the central loop 13 from sliding upon the operating bar 14. This operating bar 14 is held in slidable relation and parallel to the handle 1 by means of brackets 16.

By referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that there is provided a coupler 17 with expanded ends 18 in order that the flexible neck portion may be joined or disjoined by means of the expanded ends 18 of the coupler 17 and by cords 19. It will also be seen that there is provided rings 20 for the purpose of keeping the flexible neck portion from collapsing.

By referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the flared lower jaw member 5 is provided with an up-turned flange 21 in order that the hinged upper jaw 9 may flt snugly within this up-turned flange 21 when closed.

It will also be seen that the fruit picker is arranged and so constructed that it is an easy matter to place the same underneath the fruit and due to the flared lower jaw member 5 the difficulty of getting in between the limbs and branches of the tree holding the fruit is practically eliminated.

In operating the fruit picker the operating bar 1 1 is moved up and down in order to open and close the hinged upper jaw 19.

What I claim is:

1. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a bracket secured to the side of the upper end of said handle, a flared lower jaw rigidly secured portion, together with a hinged upper jaw secured to the flared lower jaw and positioned above said flared lower jaw and formed so as to fit within the inside of said up-turned flange on said flared lower jaw, a pair of oppositely disposed and downwardly extending arms secured to said upper jaw, a jaw manipulating rod pivotal y connected to this air or" oppositely disposed anddownwardly exte; ding arms, a central loop formed on said jaw manipulating rod, an operating bar positioned within said central loop for the purpose of actuating said jaw manipulating rod, a pair or" oppositely disposed lugs formed on said operating bar for the purpose of holding said central loop from sliding on said operating bar.

2. In a fruit picker comprising a handle and a bracket secured to the side of an upper end of said handle, the combination of a flared lower jaw rigidly secured to said bracket, a flange formed on said flared lower jaw, a hinged upper jaw positioned above said flared lower jaw and secured to said flared jaw and seated within said flange on said flared lower jaw when in a closed position, a pair of oppositely disposed and downwardly extending arms secured to said upper jaw, a jaw manipulating rod, a central loop in said jaw manipulating rod, an operating bar positioned within said central loop, lugs formed on said operating bar for the purpose of holding said operating bar in a slidable and parallel position in relation to said handle.

GEORGE E. MELOWN. 

